February 28th, 2022

Worthing Borough Council will fight Goring Gap housing decision

Worthing Borough Council has vowed to continue its fight to protect the green space at Goring Gap after its decision to reject an application for new housing was overruled.
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February 25th, 2022

Pay rises for refuse, recycling and cleansing staff after review

A review of staff pay, terms and conditions and working environments will lead to more money for refuse, recycling and cleansing staff.

Adur & Worthing Councils have been looking at the issue since October, working with staff and UNISON to ensure our teams get a fair deal.

The first phase of that review has now been completed. Although base pay was already comparable to that of other local authorities, the review recommends that every one of the jobs looked at should be moved up a grade on the Councils’ pay band scale or paid a market supplement of £2,000 a year for at least two years. The changes reflect additional responsibilities, the need for more flexible working, and in the case of market supplements the recruitment challenges for specialist roles.

Each member of staff who is being regraded will move to their new band, which includes a pay rise, on 2 March. They will then get further pay rises on 1 September this year and then on 1 April 2023 - worth a total of at least 6%.

These increases are separate to a cost-of-living salary increase which is currently being negotiated nationally for council staff.

Of the 109 posts in the Councils’ refuse, recycling and cleansing department that have been reviewed, 65 will be moved up a grade and a further 40 will get an annual market supplement of £2,000 until at least October 2023 - the equivalent of a pay rise of at least 8.1%. Four more will get both an annual market supplement of £2,000 until at least October 2023 and be moved up a grade.

An Adur & Worthing Councils’ spokesperson said: “We’re grateful to our staff and to UNISON, the recognised union, for helping us to carry out this review, which will lead to substantial pay rises for our frontline teams over the next year.

“We hope they and the unions will continue to share their ideas for how we can make the service better both for them and residents.”

Adur & Worthing Councils’ review is continuing, including work to rebalance refuse and recycling rounds to deal with the demands of new housing. Staff are being offered the opportunity to gain an HGV driving qualification while there will also continue to be discussions about ways to improve the working environment

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February 24th, 2022

Taking steps to spruce up Worthing town centre

A taskforce is using good old-fashioned shoe leather to tackle disrepair and help ensure Worthing town centre remains spick and span.
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February 23rd, 2022

Brooklands Park to be reawakened

The diggers are swinging into action at Brooklands Park as work to revitalise the popular area gets underway.
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